This weekend, I’m in Kingston, NY for my second-ever Field + Supply. I’ve only participated once before, back in the spring, but somehow it already feels familiar. Like I’ve been doing it for years. There’s something about seeing familiar faces, reconnecting with fellow makers, and discovering brands that spark something in you that makes this market so special.
At the last F+S (my very first one) I went all in with the prep. I made new signage, printed QR codes, obsessed over every little detail. This time around, though, the timing coincided with my office move, and I had zero time to think about it until hours before leaving. I packed furiously, made a mental note to stop by my storage unit for more inventory, and hit the road.
Less than three minutes into my drive, my phone GPS holder snapped in half. (If you live in NYC, you know how impossible it is to find a new one last minute. It's definitely an Amazon kind of purchase.) I called a friend in a panic, and by some miracle, her neighbor had recently given her an extra she didn’t need. I picked it up and got back on the road. But in the chaos, I completely forgot to stop by my storage unit. I arrived at F+S with less inventory than planned, but I made do.
People often ask me, “How do you do it all?” The truth? Everything does get done, but often at the eleventh hour. A minute before showtime, I put my game face on. And as soon as it’s over, I fall apart from the intensity… and then pick myself back up again.
This season of life of raising kids, running a business, and constantly adapting isn’t easy. But I can do hard things. We can do hard things. It’s just about putting one foot in front of the other.
With love,
Maria